Government targets to reduce health inequalities in England might be measuring the wrong things, and the means to tackle the problem will emerge only over a long period, MPs have been told.

Public health experts told MPs on the parliamentary select committee on health last week, as part of its inquiry into health inequalities, why they thought so little progress had been made so far.

MPs asked why health inequalities have continued to grow, despite government efforts in its 2003 strategy Tackling Inequalities: A Programme for Action and despite GPs achieving health targets set out in their contract. …